Parkour Earth launches

[vc_row][vc_column][wbc_heading title="The right of self-determination and common unity brings the international Parkour community together to federate and establish the International Federation - ‘Parkour Earth’"][vc_empty_space][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Any International Federation protecting the sovereignty of the sport, art and/or discipline of Parkour/Freerunning/Art Du Déplacement should and must be established only by consensus of the international community, via a process of federating National Federations, as per entrenched and recognised international norms, on the established right of self-determination.  By virtue of that right we, as an international community determine our sporting, social and cultural development, in accordance with the freely expressed will and desire of the international community.As a result of a clear and demonstrable common unity and purpose within the international community, a number of National Federations reached an accord on the 4^th July 2017 to establish Parkour Earth as the International Federation for Parkour/Freerunning/Art Du Déplacement - our sport[1], our community, our culture, our identity.The six founding National Federations are Parkour UK (GBR), Fédération de Parkour (FRA), New Zealand Parkour - Tauhōkai Aotearoa  (NZL), Australian Parkour Association (AUS), Parkour South Africa (ZAF) &  Polska Federacja Parkour i Freerun (POL).The accord by the founding member National Federations has had approval of their Boards, members and/or communities. Following the transparent and democratic approval of the accord, Parkour Earth was incorporated on the 12^th July 2017 and registered at Companies House in the UK.The founding member National Federations, have elected and appointed a transitional Board of Directors on phased initial terms of office. The Transitional Board consists of four Elected Directors - Damien Puddle of New Zealand Parkour – Tauhōkai Aotearoa, Eliot Duffy of Australian Parkour Association, Paul Gray of Parkour South Africa & Sacha Lemaire of Fédération de Parkour. In addition to two Independent Directors - Stuart McInnes MBE as Independent Chair & Dr Belinda Wheaton. Additionally, Eugene Minogue of Parkour UK has been nominated and appointed as transitional CEO on an ex-officio basis. The transitional arrangements are fully detailed in Schedule 3 of Parkour Earth's Memorandum & Articles of Association (constitution/statues) and on our website.As the International Federation for Parkour/Freerunning/Art Du Déplacement, Parkour Earth will be the custodians of the philosophy, integrity and sovereignty of the Sport internationally for and on behalf of the international community and be the sole governing and administering body for the sport internationally to protect the rights, freedoms and promote the interests of Traceurs/Traceuses, Freerunners, practitioners, members & the international community.Parkour Earth has been established on two fundamental principles;

• National Federations federating – to comprise of national Parkour/Freerunning/ Art Du Deplacement communities, as represented by their National Federations and/or organisations governing and/or administering the development of the sport, art and/or discipline nationally, as well as embracing and supporting those communities trying to form a National Federation in territory where there is no National Federation and/or organisation.
• Established on the recognised principles of ‘Good Governance’ – this starts with the Memorandum & Articles of Association defining and creating a clear, practical and proportionate system which sets out what the International Federation can do, who the members are and can be, how decisions are made and who is responsible for making it happen. By implementing Good Governance practices, Parkour Earth will ensure that it is being managed effectively, in a way that helps it to achieve its objects, values and principles whilst also safeguarding the integrity of the Federation and the best interests of all its members and the international community.

In-line with the founding fundamental principle of Good Governance and as part of our primary objects, Parkour Earth applied to become members of the Sport Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) - an independent, neutral, and global body dedicated to the promotion and safeguarding of integrity, good governance, and ethical behaviour in sport. Parkour Earth attended the SIGA Sport Integrity Forum II on the 26 July 2017 and the SIGA Congress on the 27 July 2017 in Lisbon, Portugal where Parkour Earth was formally accepted into membership of SIGA. To ensure that Parkour Earth wholly fulfills its founding principle and object of Good Governance, Parkour Earth will begin to fully implement the SIGA ‘Universal Standards’.Parkour Earth is now beginning the process of on-boarding other National Federations and communities from around the world. The first AGM (Congress) will be held within 210 days of incorporation, therefore in early 2018. At the AGM the members/community will be asked to nominate, elect and/or appoint the Board of Directors (by electing and/or appointing up to 6 additional directors). The full Board will then comprise a maximum of 12 members - 4 Independent directors and 8 Elected directors - at least one of whom must be an Athletes representative. Additionally, as part of the founding fundamental principle of Good Governance, there are additional requirements surrounding the composition of the Board, as set out in the Memorandum & Articles of Association. These include requirements such as; the number of Independent Directors shall not be greater than the number of Elected Directors appointed at any one time. A member National Federation may only be represented on the Board by one director at any time. Parkour Earth encourages gender parity and ethnic diversity and is committed to ensuring that the Board, as far as is reasonably practicable, shall aim to have not less than thirty percent representation of each gender and individuals from different ethnic backgrounds. Additionally, terms of office are limited to a maximum of two four year terms.Parkour Earth’s primary objects, values and principles are set out in the Memorandum & Articles of Association and it will also do all within its power, as shall be thought fit to further the interests of the Federation, its members and or the international community to the attainment of all or any of the objects, values and principles.The Objects include:

• To be the custodians of the philosophy, integrity and sovereignty of the Sport internationally for and on behalf of the international community.
• To protect the rights, freedoms and promote the interests of Traceurs/Traceuses, Freerunners, practitioners, members & the international community.
• To be the sole governing and administering body for the sport internationally.
• To comprise of national federations and/or organisations governing and/or administering the sport at national level.
• To encourage, support and promote national federations in individual countries, nations or territories not yet members of the Federation, where the sport is not yet nationally recognised to increase membership internationally and to encourage, support and promote the formation of national federations in individual countries, nations or territories where the Sport is not yet nationally organised.

The Values include:

• To ensure that the practice of the Sport in all its branches is a human right such that every human can have the possibility of freely practicing the Sport, without discrimination of any kind, within the spirit of friendship, solidarity, equality and fair play regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
• Where relevant, to develop the Sport beyond the sporting context including the promotion of sport for social change, sport for development and the arts.
• To be responsible for the development of non-competitive and/or competitive programmes at international level and where relevant to co-ordinate events nationally and/or internationally.

The Principles include:

• Good Governance - to encourage and support the promotion of and ensuring that principles of good governance be applied within and throughout the Sport.
• Autonomy - The autonomy of international sport is recognised as a fundamental principle and the Federation will take all appropriate measures to promote, preserve and protect the autonomy of the Sport internationally and The Federation shall provide Members complete autonomy in their own territory. It will have no part nor interfere in purely national issues unless such issues affect or undermine the objects, values and principles the international image and/or the international status of the Sport and/or the Federation in any way.

Parkour Earth as the International Federation for our sport has chosen to utilise the globally recognised term ‘Parkour’ within the name of the Federation to fully represent the sport, art and/or discipline of Parkour/Freerunning/Art Du Deplacement. However, it is recognised that there are sensitivities and nuances in language throughout the international community on the various names/terminologies utilised.Parkour Earth has adopted an interim logo and will hold an open process of logo design and submissions for, by and from the members/international community for consideration and shortlisting by the Board. The shortlist will then be put to the community/membership for formal vote of the adoption of the official logo of Parkour Earth at the first AGM in early 2018.The official languages of the Federation are English and French. As and when appropriate, other working languages may be introduced and simultaneous translations may be provided at meetings.ENDSDownload a full copy of the public announcement in English here and French here.For more information relating the announcement, please contact Eugene Minogue on +44 (0)7920 793 728, via email or for more information on Parkour Earth visit the website, or Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.[1] While our use of the term sport stems from the Council of Europe definition Parkour Earth recognises that some groups of practitioners may not describe the activity as 'sport’.Council of Europe definition “Sport” means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]